How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System: Half-Life, Drug Tests, and More

You’ve been looking for a new job for a while now. You finally found one that you were interested in and they wanted to schedule an interview with you. You made sure you were on time, professional, and dressed to the nines. It went over great and they want to offer you the position, but first, you have to take a drug test.

You panic a bit. You know you partied with your friends just last weekend. Would the cocaine you took at that party still be in your system? Could one night a few days ago potentially ruin your chances of getting this job? How can you know if it’s still in your system or not? 

Here at Pinnacle Peak Recovery, we hear stories like this all the time. With over 4,000 people age 12+ reporting past month cocaine use, our team of expert-level physicians wanted to offer insight to our community about it. There are many reasons why someone might be getting a drug test, from needing it for a job to legal reasons. So today we’re going to answer the question - how long does cocaine stay in your system? 

How Is Cocaine Metabolized in the Body?

Just like almost any other substance you put into your body, there are a few systems that help in the process of passing cocaine. This varies a little, depending on how you ingested the cocaine in the first place.

For those who snort or smoke cocaine, the first place it passes through is your lungs. From there it is absorbed into the bloodstream. If you inject cocaine, you skip this step and move straight into the bloodstream.

From there, foreign substances and toxins are processed in the liver, cycling through it until the blood is clean. This can take a variable amount of time as the liver can only handle so much of a substance at once. After it is finished being metabolized and processed, it leaves the body through your urine and sweat. 

What Factors Affect How Long Cocaine Remains in Your System?

When it comes to drug use and your body’s ability to properly process it, there are many things that can impact that system. So much so that there is no perfect estimate on how long something will take to pass through you, though we are able to get a fairly narrow window. 

Some of the most common things that can impact your ability to process a drug include history of substance use, what you ate in a day, and even your metabolism and age. 

Does Cocaine Stay In Your System Longer if It’s Mixed With Alcohol/Other Substances?

Polysubstance use, or partaking in multiple substances before the other substances leave your system, greatly impacts how long it takes to process things. The liver is what manages and processes toxins in our body, but it has a maximum capacity. When it reaches that capacity, any remaining substance in your system has to essentially wait until it can be processed. During this time it tends to move around your body where it can impact other vital organs like your heart and brain. If you have too much in your system, this can eventually lead to a cocaine overdose. 

Does Method of Use Affect How Long Cocaine Stays in Your System?

The method of use does not greatly impact how long cocaine stays in your body. The duration that a substance stays in your body is measured in what is known as a “half-life.” This refers to the amount of time it takes for half of the substance to leave your body. Because cocaine is the same substance no matter how it’s taken, the half-life does not change. 

How Is Cocaine Detected on Drug Tests?

When cocaine is metabolized through the body, it must eventually leave the body. This is common even in medications or other substances like marijuana or alcohol. The exact enzymes that are produced by the processing of cocaine are what is searched for in various drug tests.

There are a few primary types of drug tests: urine tests, blood tests, hair tests, saliva tests, and sweat tests. Not all tests work for every type of drug. Let’s take a look and see which ones are most common for cocaine use. 

• Urine tests - one of the most common tests due to ease and cost. Cocaine can be detected in urine for 2-3 days after use. For those with a longer history of use, there have been instances of it being detected up to 2 weeks after use. 
• Saliva tests - these are becoming more common because they’re harder for people to “cheat” on. Cocaine can be detected in saliva for 1-2 days after last use. 
• Blood tests - these are not as common due to invasiveness and due to how quickly drugs actually tend to leave your blood. Cocaine can be detected in blood only about 12 hours after last use. 
• Hair tests - due to longevity, these can be more popular in legal cases. Cocaine can be detected in hair for up to a month after use, however, hair tests aren’t always the most accurate and results can vary from strand to strand.
• Sweat tests - this is not a common test as results can vary depending on where the patch is placed.

Can Other Substances Cause You to Test Positive for Cocaine Use?

False positives for cocaine tests are incredibly rare and unlikely to happen. There have been a few cases of very specific antibodies reading similarly to cocaine in urine tests, but this is, again, incredibly rare and unlikely. 

Are There Any Ways to Get Cocaine Out of My System Faster?

There are no ways to easily or rapidly get a drug out of your system. Even if you eat a lot or drink a lot of water, heavily diluted urine can actually raise red flags because it is assumed that you’re trying to flush something out of your system. 

Getting Help for Cocaine Detox at Pinnacle Peak Recovery in Arizona

If you or a loved one is looking for a place to go to start your recovery from cocaine addiction, Pinnacle Peak Recovery is here to help. We offer everything from medically supervised detox programs to inpatient and outpatient treatments, too. Our goal is to see you reach your recovery goals, and we will work with you to find a treatment plan that fits your specific needs. 

Our team of compassionate experts is equipped to help teach you the skills you need to manage your addiction. We know that substance use isn’t a one-dimensional problem, which is why we offer more than just therapy programs. We have house programs, family therapy, nutrition programs, and more. Substance use often impacts every corner of a person’s life, so it’s important to address those needs during recovery, too.

With our Proven Process, we will guide you toward long-term recovery. With a robust alumni program, support systems, and more, we will work hard to help you achieve your goals.